What to do with old vinyl records?

[DebBrown]

I must have been a pack rat in another life.

I have boxes of old records that belonged mostly to my grandparents but some from my youth in the 70s. I'm having a hard time parting with them. I was wondering if there is anything crafty I could do with my favorites? Occasionally I've seen strange art or bowls, etc. made out of old records.

And if anyone wants tons of brass band records from the 40s or the entire sound track of Oklahoma on 78s, let me know.

Deb

 

[loafingcactus]

Have you looked on eBay to see what they might sell for? I think I would do that before accidentally turning something into a bowl that would make you cry.

 

[Patri]

Listen to them.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Stax & Stax Of Wax -- Those Golden Oldies -- The Grooveyard Of Forgotten Favorites.

Last year I donated 525 or so LPs to a local charity thrift store -- not nasty old scratched-up records walked on by golf shoes, but a nice bunch that included a few still in unopened shrink-wrap that I never got round to playing before digital media overwhelmed the old-style analogue technology to the point that nobody listens to vinyl anymore, not even me.

As it happens, that stack of 525 -- not an estimate, an actual count by The Chief Of Staff -- is just the tip of the iceberg. Lots more are neatly shelved upstairs, approximately 35 feet of'm.

Plus, I still have lots & lots of old 45-rpm singles & several bushels of nice stereo tape cassettes that have gone unplayed for years & years.

I draw the line at 78-rpm records & 8-track tape cartridges. Those are all out of here long since.

My good friend from high school days who now lives north of Sacramento CA has made a project of digitizing his entire record collection & putting'm all on iTunes. He says virtually his entire library of old records & tapes is now physically shrunk down to the size of a matchbook & loaded onto his iPod Classic -- something to think about, no ?

Even so, the question remains -- what to do with all the old original cassettes & disks that are too good to throw out & no longer good enough to keep.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[Passepartout]

The majority are probably worth very little. If you come across any that may have historical significance, perhaps your library or historical society may be interested. That said, I have seen some rock 'n' roll albums from the 60's and 70's that bring a tidy sum. Maybe only a few have actual value, but wouldn't it be a shame to put 'em all in a dumpster if one or two had some value- historically, musically, collectively or otherwise. I have a similar dilemma. I have saved a few boxes of 60's R&R vinyl. They are in a rental storage unit, and could be melted into a useless glob by now. I'm afraid to look. Sigh.

Good luck. Hope you find some limited editions in mint condition.

Jim

 

[DebBrown]

No, there's nothing valuable in my collection. That's why I sorted through them today. A couple have sentimental value - my Uncle Phil playing Tuba with the London Philharmonic, my first Jackson5 45 - yet I doubt that the quality is very good.

I thought about ebay but packaging them for shipping, etc. is more trouble than its worth.

BTW, Alan, my daughter has a pretty extensive 8-track collection!

Deb

 

[pgnewarkboy]

Haven't you heard? Vinyl is the new old thing.

I am sure there is a robust market for old vinyl in good condition.

 

[linsj]

I don't know where you live; but in the Chicago area, several used music stores still buy vinyl. I'd check into that possibility, as well as listing them on craigslist. After all, one person's trash is another person's treasure.

 

[dwojo]

Take out an ad in your local newspaper or on Craigslist. Many people collect vinyl records and some are worth quite a lot of money nowadays.

 

[AwayWeGo]

All Or Nothing.

Take out an ad in your local newspaper or on Craigslist. Many people collect vinyl records and some are worth quite a lot of money nowadays.

OK -- but make'm take the whole bunch.

Otherwise, they'll just cherry-pick the best of the lot & leave you stuck with all the rest.

( Just saying. )

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[billwright1]

We found a record flee market in Lancaster PA that meets every month or so. It was packed with people buying and selling.
Bing it to see it there is one near you.

 

[mecllap]

If grandson hadn't broken the handle on my victrola, I could be tempted by Oklahoma on 78's (I actually may still have an electric turntable that plays 78's).

I have some favorite albums (in the covers) in frames in my kitchen as wall art (craft stores carry frames just for them -- well, they also fit scrapbook pages), and there are other crafty things to do with them (the melting into bowls that you mentioned, for one). You could google or bing LP crafts. There's probably a way to use them for building a recycled materials house -- donate them somewhere, if you don't want the work of selling them (most are probably only worth a dollar or less, unless the cover art is special).

I started working on getting mine onto the computer, but it's slow going -- too many other projects keep getting in the way.

eta: Oh yes, I am a packrat in this life -- my daughter is scared to death of having to deal with my stuff someday.

 

[RDB]

Looked on ebay

Set 78rpm Vaughn Monroe 2 Records 40s Seems Like Old Times

Buy It Now Price: US $7.49
Shipping: $4.00

 

[RDB]

Hang on to them

They may be worth a lot when they are another generation or two older!

 

[jfbookers]

We play them

Several years ago we bought a box of records at a yard sale for maybe $10.00 including a nice box. Next we bought a cheap record player/CD player/Radio. We seldom used it but them we built a log cabin that we rent short term and most of my renters seem to play something. Our collection has expanded and several review writers have mentioned how much fun they had playing them. The collection goes from early country, to folk, to show tunes to rock & roll and if you can't find one you like you don't like music. At maybe $1.00 per record I don't get too upset when an ipod kid who has never seen a record tries to play it. Now I listen much more that I used to. Try it.

 

[RDB]

I'm keeping the ones we treasure

TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD: A Treasury Of Inspirational Songs
33rpm 6 record set

ebay Buy now: $60 $4 shipping

Someday our great grandkid might sell them.

 

[RDB]

TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD: A Treasury Of Inspirational Songs
33rpm 6 record set

ebay Buy now: $60 $4 shipping

Someday our great grandkid might sell them.

Henry Mancini Portraits in Stereo 5 lp box set
Buy It Now $12.95
or
HENRY MANCINI portraits in stereo 5 LP VG++
Buy It Now $50.00

Depend who offers it and its condition.

 

[wandering gnome]

This weekend I visited my son at college this weekend and took us to his favorite haunts--a couple used music/video stores. One started selling vinyl last year and there was a demand. Now she had boxes and boxes of vinyl. So there is a market for them.

 

[RDB]

It would seem over time, that sellers buy on the cheap and list for higher prices.
Those I mention have numerous listings.

Magical World Of Melody - 10 Album Set of Records
has only 4 listings on ebay, today. Price $4 to $17.
Wait a few years... The price will climb.

I suggest you preserve the good stuff.

We are happy our house caught a tree rather than fire.

 

[timeos2]

Some, very few, in good shape and by the right artist are worth some money. Most are trash,

My daughter, who to my knowledge has never used a record player/turntable although she has seen me with mine many times, recently got a 33RPM classic album from a guy looking for $3 for gas in a parking lot. She gave him the $3 and, to make it up to her, he offered the reord. She laughed about it but was so intrigued by it that she searched out a turntable (at my fathers as it turns out) to hear the thing play. She was amazed at the sound quality & richness most of the MP3 she favors just don't offer. Well worth $3 to hear that there is/was a difference and a reason the lp has made a recent, small comeback among audio affectationato's. I haven't listened to one in 5 years but maybe Ill fire up a few just to enjoy that again.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Rick and I both have collections of LP's, and many are duplicates. More of the Monkees is my favorite, and Rick bought me a CD of that album a few years ago, and now it's one on my ipod. Love that album.

 

[MuranoJo]

My good friend from high school days who now lives north of Sacramento CA has made a project of digitizing his entire record collection & putting'm all on iTunes. He says virtually his entire library of old records & tapes is now physically shrunk down to the size of a matchbook & loaded onto his iPod Classic -- something to think about, no ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

This is what DH is doing. In fact, I got him a new turntable last Xmas just for this project. He was making good progress over winter, but once the weather got nice, he abandoned it & will return to it again in January. (We both had a lot of LPs when we married and some duplicates. I also heard they are making a comeback.)

 

[timeos2]

This is what DH is doing. In fact, I got him a new turntable last Xmas just for this project. He was making good progress over winter, but once the weather got nice, he abandoned it & will return to it again in January. (We both had a lot of LPs when we married and some duplicates. I also heard they are making a comeback.)

Been that route - but no success to date! Why not? Because I purchased a dedicated USB turntable to create MP3's from my (actual count - I have it on a database) 768 unique albums & 1,687 45's - to date (it came from Circuit City so that's a hint how long it's been) I've never opened the box!

Guess that will be my goal for this winter. Set it up & get to recording. I'd really like t hear some of that old stuff despite having the vast majority on CD's now (yes, most on a data base too - don't ask the count or the wife will kill me!) Wonder if the warranty is still good?

 

[AwayWeGo]

You Typed A Mouthful.

Some, very few, in good shape and by the right artist are worth some money. Most are trash

You are correct, sir.

Even so, the stax of wax that I'm keeping -- including possible rarities as well as more commonplace disks -- are the ones that I like even though they might not be everyone's cup of tea.

Shux, I'm sure I've got some old LPs & 45s that Dr. Demento doesn't even have.

That doesn't mean they're worth anything, except to me, but I've got'm anyway.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[bjones9942]

There are several methods available to digitize them, and it's a nice looooong project that you can do here and there.

Mecllap - you know you can get replacement parts/repairs for your victrola?

There are times when I'm in a mood ... I put on my 78 of the Too Fat Polka by the Andrews Sisters and open the sound baffle doors wide!